Genuine foot stomping, chicken pickin’ country rock and roll with a touch of improvisational jam recreating the “outlaw” country sound of the 60’s and 70’s, Cosmic country boogie for two steppin’ and occasionally a slow one for some skoal swappin’

Gravy has played such great events as the Redneck Olympics and The Demolition Derby. You will only find these guys in the dumpiest of dives in Arizona and Colorado, pulling 300 plus fans to their local shows. Cosmic country boogie for two steppin’ and occasionally a slow one for some skoal swappin’. Gravy won best album in 2005 and 2006 in their hometown, Flagstaff, AZ., and best band in 2006.

Gravy began as a Wednesday night jam session. Just for fun the guys would get together and listen to all the country classics on old vinyl. They would learn the hits of traditional artists like Faron Young, George Jones and Ray Price. Special care was also made to learn the music of the California country rock scene of the 60’s and 70’s. Bands like The Flying Burrito Brothers, Commander Cody, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Pure Prairie League, Little Feat and the Byrds were added to the mix. Next in line was the Texas outlaw sound. After viewing the “Heartworn Highways” DVD, Gravy became devotees of Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, David Allan Coe, Townes Van Zandt, Billy Joe Shaver and The Highwaymen. The band felt compelled to pickup the threads and continue weaving the unfinished tapestry that these predecessors had started long ago. This is reflected by both their original compositions and their attitude.

After about a year in the woodshed, Gravy played their first highly anticipated gig. Since then, the Gravy has rapidly grown both on the traditional juke joint front as well as the contemporary jam band circuit. They are able to play the classic two-steppin’ and line dancing music and infuse it with improvisational segments. Stereotypes at a Gravy show include: cowboys, truckers, hippies, rednecks, river runners, tree huggers, sorority girls and hells angels.

This band may very well be the best band you have never heard of. The band members have “paying their dues” for over 15 years, and have provided the backbone for many bands in the West and Southwest. These guys can all really play their instruments. It is not too often you see a guy with dreadlocks playing pedal steel guitar.

Rand Anderson: Vocals, Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar

Rand’s professional career has spanned over 15 years as he has played with many different groups throughout the western United States. He founded the band Freshly Baked in Los Angeles in 1993. The band recorded 5 albums and performed over 1000 shows until the Baked disbanded in 2000. Rand also played in Los Angeles with Ramsay Midwood, Dave Wakeling (English Beat), 15 Mary Thompsons, Boogie Messiah, Remanants of Eden, Cubensis and Suns of The Dead. Rand moved to Flagstaff, Arizona in 2000. He toured the southwest with such reggae bands as Bredren, Casper and the 602 Band, Shredlocks and Sai Baba. Funk/Bluegrass/Jam Bands include Wookiee, Hardly Heard, Wet Beaver Project, Barefoot, Smoking Bones, Nolan McKelvey & 33. He studied pedal steel guitar under Nashville greats Doug Jernigan, Jeff Newman, and Joe Wright. He has filled in, sat-in, and recorded for many national diverse acts including Wise Monkey Orchestra, Shanti Groove, Vince Herman, Bruce Hayes, Electrobek, Latch Key Kid, Slackstring, Telescope and Justin Siminson. Rand has opened for Sublime, Jimmy Cliff, Eek A Mouse, Burning Spear, The Wailers, Jazz Is Dead, JGB, Merl Saunders, Donna Godchaux, David Grisman, David Nelson Band, Norman Blake, Missing Man Formation, Steve Kimock, Pat Green, Marc Chestnut, Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers, Drew Emmitt Band, Richie Havens, North Mississippi All-Stars and Robert Earl Keen.

Keith Gomora: Bass Guitar, Vocals

Gomora’s roots on the upright bass originate in Alison Krauss’ home town of Champaign, IL where he was studying communications and jamming with local celebs in that town’s bluegrass incubator. After more than a few unaccountable years, Keith emerged from undisclosed locations without missing a lick or a lyric and found his home in Flagstaff, AZ in 1994. Gomora first introduced himself to the Flagstaff music scene in 1996 and began entertaining fans with bands such as the European-touring Bluegrass Militia, the Beat Hicks, and 2000 Telluride Bluegrass Festival contest finalist Greensky Bluegrass. With his 2000 project Barefoot and since, Keith has been playing electric bass but is always willing to break out the doghouse to record, substitute, sit in, or round out a campground jam. A seasoned performer influenced by the bass stylings of Rick Danko, John Kahn, Barry Bales, and Phil Lesh, Keith’s been in and around the bluegrass, newgrass, altcountry, and jam scenes for over 15 years.

Brad Bays: Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica

Hailing from Massachusetts and starting to play guitar at the age of nine. Following a transient childhood, Bays earned a B.A. in music performance from Northern Arizona University in 1995. Well versed in all styles of music, Bays performed with some of the most influential bands to come out of Flagstaff such as, Oedipus Rex, Hot Monte, Warsaw, Walking Shoes, Onus B. Johnson, Big Jim and The Twins, Jack Webb New Orleans Jazz, Blessed Relief Jazz, Giant Steps Jazz, Fat Lip Quartet, South Bound, and The Gravy. On a brief stint in Boston in 2000, Bays played with The Benders and The Heather Waters Band. Opening credits would include: The Larry Keel Experience, Jack Johnson, The Vandals, Zuba, Los Lobos, among others. Bays currently resides in Flagstaff, performing with South Bound and The Gravy, and a solo act of his own. With a load of about 25 students, he also teaches guitar, banjo, mandolin, composition/music theory at Arizona Music Pro in Flagstaff.

Steve Caldwell: Vocals, Keyboards, Organ

From Seattle where Steve has played with many notable musicians, including Dale Fanning and Tough Mama, members of Critters Buggin, Shawn Smith of Satchel and Brad, he brings his notorious but rolling sounds to The Gravy. The magazine “No Depression”, reviewed Geoff Krause, and Kevin Wood of Subpop’s Willow, another Caldwell association. Playing all the major Seattle venues including the Offramp, The O K Hotel (from the movie Singles), RCKCNDY, the Tractor Tavern, the Weathered Wall, and more. As a founding member of one of the northwest’s favorites “Laughing Man”, they toured the northwest states and Canada repeatedly. Laughing Man recorded a cd for the Relentless Pursuit label in 1996, satisfying their local fan base. Caldwell also played on the recording of the ep Creep and the Doubt with Geoff Ott at London Bridge Studios. For long periods in his twenties, Steve ranched in southern Colorado and New Mexico trying his best to lay low, but after moving to Flagstaff in 2002 The Gravy Rig finally caught him.

Andrew Lauher: The Drummer

While living an hour west of ole El Paso in Alamagordo, New Mexico at an early age is where Andrew recalls his father, a drummer himself, exposing him to the Outlaw Country music scene and all styles of authentic country music. Although Lauher went on to be raised all over the world on all types of music, the American Southwest and Outlaw Country Groove have remained in his blood. As a drummer, Andrew has toured all over the United States playing Honky Tonks with Bands such as The Country RoadRunners and The Clay McClinton Band based out of Nashville. At thirty three years old, Andrew has been a professional gigging musician for 15 years now. Lauher is also involved with Nolan McKelvey & 33.